1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
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3 SENATE BILL 1624 By: Seifried
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to higher education; amending 70 O.S.
7 2021, Section 626.7, which relates to the Oklahoma
8 Higher Education Tuition Aid Act; providing
8 eligibility for certain programs; updating statutory
9 language; updating statutory reference; providing an
9 effective date; and declaring an emergency.
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12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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13 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 626.7, is
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14 amended to read as follows:
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15 Section 626.7. A college tuition aid grant may be awarded
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16 annually to each eligible, qualified full-time or part-time
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17 undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a curriculum leading
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18 to a degree or certificate in an institution of collegiate grade or
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19 postsecondary institution providing a program of training to prepare
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20 students for employment in a recognized occupation in Oklahoma
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21 approved or accredited by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
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22 Education or appropriate postsecondary agency. Eligible programs of
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23 training shall include comprehensive transition and postsecondary
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24 programs approved by the United States Department of Education.
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 1 College tuition aid grants shall be awarded in accordance with the
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2 following:
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3 1. Eligibility. Each full-time or part-time resident student
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4 will shall be eligible to receive a grant in an amount as provided
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5 in paragraph 2 of this section. The Oklahoma State Regents for
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6 Higher Education shall determine by rules and regulations the
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7 maximum number of semesters a student may be eligible for grants.
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8 No student shall be eligible for grants unless the student maintains
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9 such minimum standards of academic performance as are required by
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10 the institution in which the student is enrolled.
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11 In the event a student for any reason ceases to continue to be
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12 enrolled during the course of an academic year, the student shall
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13 cease to be eligible for tuition aid.; and
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14 2. Amount of grant. The amount of tuition aid grant to any
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15 student under this act the Oklahoma Higher Education Tuition Aid Act
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16 for any semester shall represent a percentage not greater than
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17 seventy-five percent (75%) of the tuition and enrollment fees
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18 normally charged to residents of the State of Oklahoma this state by
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19 the institution of attendance. The Oklahoma State Regents for
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20 Higher Education shall determine by rules the annual maximum award
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21 amount based on an annual assessment of funds availability.
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22 Financial assistance received under this act the Oklahoma Higher
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23 Education Tuition Aid Act will shall be considered as part of a
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24 student’s financial aid package.
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 1 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2024.
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2 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
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3 of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
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4 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
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5 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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7 59-2-2597 EB 1/12/2024 3:30:51 PM
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